No makeover for Chianti Bistro

Larissa Dubecki

The owners of popular Fitzroy North cafe Mixed Business have taken a softly-softly approach to Queens Parade stalwart Chianti Bistro since taking over in mid-February. There's been no hipster makeover of the dining room co-owner Tom Crowe describes as "1985 Lygon Street Italian". "There's no recycled timber or exposed lightbulbs,'' Crowe promises - just red-brick archways and murals. Even the name remains the same.

But the menu, under the control of chef and co-owner Dom Stanton (who cooked with Frank Camorra in the early days of MoVida), has been pared back into a brief list of produce-driven Italian dishes, including Chianina beef and housemade pasta. Check it out Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm.